Could Sinn Fein surge spurred by Brexit see Northern Ireland leave the UK?

It is all in the name: 'Sinn Fein' in Irish, 'Ourselves Alone' in English.

Irish Republicans don't want British rule in what they call "the occupied six counties".

There is no such place as 'Northern Ireland' in their vocabulary or in their mind-set.

For the 96 years it has existed as a separate entity, they have demanded reunification.

Does the surge in support for Sinn Fein increase the likelihood of a border poll?

"It has never been off our agenda," Gerry Adams told me as the votes were counted.

A border poll is a referendum on ending the partition of the island of Ireland.

In other words, it is a vote on Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom.

The only person with the power to call one is Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire.

The Northern Ireland constitution, amended at the time of the Good Friday Agreement (1998), states: "…the Secretary of State shall exercise the power… if at any time it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a United Ireland."

The previous Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa Villiers MP, said the bar had not been met.

It is much more difficult to argue that when Unionists have lost their overall majority.

But Sinn Fein's success at the polls does not amount to a Nationalist majority either.

They can only outvote the Unionists if the smaller, moderate parties join forces with them.

To the best of my knowledge, Gerry Adams has flown the Union flag only once.

He tweeted an emoji of it alongside the words "Och no" after the Scottish referendum.

Sinn Fein will not demand a referendum until it is confident of a yes vote.

There is a smaller goal in sight right now - designated EU status for Northern Ireland.

Make no mistake about, Brexit played its part in the "watershed" result in the election.

Northern Ireland, like Scotland, voted to remain but, as part of the UK, will leave the EU.

Some have told me their vote to remain was not out of love for Brussels.

It was out of respect for their neighbours, the relationship with the Republic of Ireland.

Sinn Fein did not need this result to hasten a referendum on Irish unity.

Brexit - and the prospect of a hard Irish border - had arguably done that for them.